Eighteen new officers were sworn in as Marine law enforcement officers on Wednesday
Vice President and Minister of Justice Raynold Oilouch led the swearing in ceremony .
The eighteen officers are joining the ramks of the police force of Palau with most of the new officers already been trained in Japan to man the new patrol boat donated by Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
An official handover ceremony is scheduled to take place in February 2018 for PSS Kedam.
The new patrol boat Kedam is funded with the grant by the Nippon Foundation at a cost of over $30 million, Kedam is expected to enhance Palau’s marine surveillance capabilities and police its s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Palau has another patrol boat from the Australia’s Pacific Patrol Boat Program. PSS Remeliik will be replaced with a new patrol boat from Australia by 2019.
Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Peace Foundation will providing funding for the salaries and trainings of the crewmebers.